Even if we're not quite over the mountain just yet, everybody is dreaming of their post COVID-19 holiday. Luckily, after years of pandemic, borders are opening more and more and travel is getting easier and safer, with many protective measures in play. If you too are looking to get your family out of the house and into the sun, consider a holiday in Tenerife. The island is one of the UK's top destinations for a great vacation anyone can enjoy. Here are some tips for activities in Tenerife that will keep the entire family entertained.
Family Holiday Planning Challenges
Holidays are fun. Both parents and children typically enjoy getting away from home and experiencing new things in a different place. But it's not all sunshine and candy. If you haven’t experienced it yourself as a bored teen on a family holiday, you might become aware of it now, once planning the trip and its activities rests on your shoulders.
It can be challenging to find both a destination and things to do that will make every member of the family happy. Both parents and children should be able to make the most of these few weeks a year. That’s why every family member’s interests should be included in the plans, and many compromises must be found. Here’s why Tenerife is a great destination, and some tips for fun family activities on the island that will offer something for everyone.
Destination Tenerife
Tenerife is a Canary Island and as such a part of Spain. It’s easy to reach from Europe and its surrounding countries, and navigating the island isn’t hard, since its popularity among travellers has given it a great infrastructure and amenities aimed at tourists. Even if you don’t know any Spanish, more often than not English will be just fine to get by.
Hotels can create a bit of distance between family members on a holiday. Instead of booking separate rooms in a resort, how about looking for a holiday home to rent. This way, you have a place to spend if the weather is bad or your energy is low. Lettings in the Tenerife sun can take on any shape you are looking for. When you are looking for a family home away from home, booking a holiday rental gives you the chance to search for the perfect family friendly place in affordable price ranges.
No matter where you stay, you will benefit from the island’s mild weather. Temperatures around 22° C are standard pretty much all year around. Even when it’s warmer, the many beaches will offer you plenty of space to cool off and enjoy the 3,000 hours of sunshine a year in Tenerife.
What to do?
While many family members are fine finding something to do on a beach, you might want to mix it up a little. Luckily, there are many activities to be found in Tenerife that have the potential to provide you with a perfect day. The following suggestions include either or both adventure and educational elements, making them a great fit for family holidays.
Exploring the Island’s Volcanic Origin
Tenerife was created by multiple volcanic eruptions. Even today, volcanoes like the monumental Mount Teide make up a lot of the island’s geography and topography. There are lava fields, semideserts, rocky moonscapes and many unique geological formations that were created by the volcanoes’ influence.
Some small rural towns in the south of Tenerife are great examples of how villagers had to develop architecture and other adaptive strategies to handle living in these wastelands. There are many opportunities, like this 8 h day trip, that will educate and entertain you about the volcanoes of Tenerife.
Water Fun in the Siam Park
This trip would be less educational, but just as adventurous. The Siam Park is Tenerife’s most famous water park and was named the World’s Best Water Park multiple times by TripAdvisor. It even holds some world records for its attractions, like the world’s highest waves in a wave pool.
Like the name suggests, the theme of the park is Siamese and includes many Thai buildings and imagery. It was even opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand herself after the park's owner asked the royal family for permission for the use of the name and theme.
Witnessing Unique Nature
Tenerife is home to many fascinating nature phenomena. You can find an unusual number of “microclimates” on the island. They are a very localized sets of atmospheric conditions that do not extend into or affect nearby areas. Even if it rains and storms in one town, it might be warm and dry just a few kilometres down the road. Because of Tenerife’s unique topology, you could spend one day of your trip sunning on the beach and swimming, the next hiking through tropical forests or even go mountain climbing in pine forests and frosty mountain peaks.
If you enjoy your holiday to be less active, you can find a spot to lay down outside when the sun goes down. Thanks to Tenerife being a light pollution free zone, artificial light is reduced to a minimum at night. This way, you can enjoy breathtaking sights of the night sky and spend hours stargazing.
Tenerife has a lot to offer for an entire family. Whether your family members want to lay on the beach, go hiking, or have fun on a thrilling water ride – you will find something for everybody. The unique landscapes and biotopes of the island give it various regions with different climates and weather conditions. Thanks to Tenerife’s relatively small size, you will have no problem experiencing many different things during just one family holiday.
